15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,(A)
    but poverty is the ruin of the poor.(B)

Read full chapter

15 The rich hide within the fortress that is their wealth,
    but the poor are dismayed due to their poverty.

Read full chapter

24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

25 A generous(A) person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.(B)

26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
    but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

Read full chapter

24 Those who give freely gain even more;
    others hold back what they owe, becoming even poorer.
25 A generous person will prosper,
    and anyone who gives water will receive a flood in return.
26 People will curse whoever withholds grain,
    but blessing will come to whoever is selling.

Read full chapter

23 An unplowed field produces food for the poor,
    but injustice sweeps it away.

Read full chapter

23 The field of the poor may produce much food,
    but it can be swept away through injustice.

Read full chapter

25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud,(A)
    but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.(B)

Read full chapter

25 The house of the proud the Lord will demolish,
    but he will protect the widow’s boundary line.

Read full chapter

Whoever mocks the poor(A) shows contempt for their Maker;(B)
    whoever gloats over disaster(C) will not go unpunished.(D)

Read full chapter

Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their maker,
    and whoever is happy about disaster
        will not go unpunished.

Read full chapter

Wealth attracts many friends,
    but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.(A)

Read full chapter

Wealth brings many friends,
    but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

Read full chapter

The poor are shunned by all their relatives—
    how much more do their friends avoid them!(A)
Though the poor pursue them with pleading,
    they are nowhere to be found.[a](B)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.

All the relatives of a poor person shun him—
    how much more do his friends avoid him!
Though he runs after them pleading,
    they aren’t around.

Read full chapter

17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,(A)
    and he will reward them for what they have done.(B)

Read full chapter

17 Whoever is kind to the poor is lending to the Lord
    the benefit of his gift will return to him in abundance.

Read full chapter

13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
    will also cry out(A) and not be answered.(B)

Read full chapter

13 Whoever refuses to hear the cry of the poor
    will also cry himself, but he won’t be answered.

Read full chapter

The generous will themselves be blessed,(A)
    for they share their food with the poor.(B)

Read full chapter

Whoever is generous[a] will be blessed,
    for he shares his food with the poor.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:9 Lit. A good eye

16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
    and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

Read full chapter

16 Whoever oppresses the poor to enrich himself
    and whoever gives gifts to the wealthy
        will yield only loss.

Read full chapter

Saying 2

22 Do not exploit the poor(A) because they are poor
    and do not crush the needy in court,(B)
23 for the Lord will take up their case(C)
    and will exact life for life.(D)

Read full chapter

22 Don’t rob the poor person because he is poor,
    and don’t crush the helpless in court,[a]
23 for the Lord will plead their case
    and ruin the lives of those who ruin them.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:22 Lit. gate